Four separate homicides took place in different neighborhoods of New Orleans since Saturday morning, police said.

Fifth District officers with the New Orleans Police Department were notified just after midnight Saturday about a double shooting at the intersection of Pauger and North Miro streets.

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Investigators said police found two unresponsive men inside a car. The victims had apparently suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Several other shootings were reported over the weekend in the Seventh Ward, New Orleans East and Gentilly.

Willie Muhammad with New Orleans Peacekeepers said there's an underlying problem in the neighborhoods.

"A higher exposure and access to guns is a time bomb waiting to happen, so something as small as a misunderstanding, something as small as road rage, something as small as someone bumping into someone or saying the wrong thing can go from zero to 100, and 100 being let me get a gun and resolve it," Muhammad said.

Family, friends and neighbors involved in the shooting investigations declined to speak on camera, but some said they fear for their lives.

"Fear of loss of life, fear of retaliation or the fear of getting involved. You have to imagine that all of this is taking place at a time when the distrust and dislike of law enforcement is at an all-time high," Muhammad said.

He said the only way to overcome the violence is for everyone in the community to get involved.

"There's a role for everyone to play in some way, shape or form. It doesn't mean that everybody has to be walking the streets and talking to people, but there are things we can do, ways that we can support organizations, and ways that we can get involved to help address this problem," Muhammad said.

No suspects have been named. Each case remains under investigation.

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